Taken from the Skirmisher - the
newsletter of the Gen. McBride Camp of Springfield, Missouri,

Benjamin W. Tannehill was born in Frederick County, Maryland in 1831. Carlton J.
Tannehill was born there also, in 1836. They were brothers who, as adults, farmed in
Montgomery County, Missouri, in the vicinity of High Hill. They fought together as
members of the Missouri State Guard. On December 11, 1861, they enlisted with Co. B,
1st MO Cavalry, at Camp Price near the Sac River in St. Clair County, Missouri, under the
command of Col. Riggins

Benjamin was elected 2nd Lt. on December 18, 1861, and was promoted to that position on
June 29 the following year at Priceville, Mississippi. He made 1st Lt. on November
16, 1862, Lt. Tannehill was engaged in many of the same battles as his brother,
Carlton. His engagements included Carthage, Dry Springs, Oak Hills, Lexington, Sugar
Creek, Bentonville, Elkhorn Tavern, Farmington, Iuka, Corinth, Hatchie Bridge, and Baker's
Creek. He was killed at Baker's Creek on May 16, 1863, when shot through the breast
by a minie ball. He was buried on the battlefield

Carlton served throughout the war as a Private. He, too, was engaged in the
battles of Lexington, Sugar Creek, Bentonville, Elkhorn Tavern, Farmingtion, Iuka, and
Corinth. He was also engaged at Baker's Creek, Big Black, and Vicksburg. He
was captured at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863, ans was exchanged shortly thereafter. On
July 20, 1864, at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, he was wounded by a minie ball in the
breast and the head. On October 5, 1864, he was struck in the left side of his head
and face by a shell during the battle of Allatoona, Georgia. On November 30, 1864,
he was wounded in the thigh during the battle of Franklin. Pvt. Tannehill was
captured on April 9, 1865 at Blakely, Alabama. He was held as a POW at Ship Island,
Mississippi, and transferred to the Vicksburg Hospital #2. He was paroled shortly
thereafter. After the War, Carlton returned to Montgomery and surrounding counties
in an effort to continue farming until his death.

The Tannehill brothers are ancestors of Compatriot Gary Ayres, editor of the Skirmisher.